Duct Bank Demo

[Alwayslearningelec]

Have a duct bank between existing service to remain feeding a building be demolished and they want the duct bank demo'ed and the circuits will no longer be used. Would you as the electrical contract HAVE to remove the conductors or couls you disconnect and safe off with removal by others? Don't think others removing them would make any sense? Could the conductors be abandoned somehow? What would be most practical? Thanks.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

they want the duct bank demo'ed

You need an RFI. To me, that means the EC is responsible to physically remove the duct bank.

 

[infinity]

Could the conductors be abandoned somehow?

If the conductors are copper and it's your job to remove them the scrap wire could be worth quite a bit of money.

 

[ron]

There is no code requirement that would require you to remove an abandoned ductbank and / or wire, but it would be more contractual between the EC and the GC/CM

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

There is no code requirement that would require you to remove an abandoned ductbank and / or wire, but it would be more contractual between the EC and the GC/CM

But if not removed by EC what would be the other option(s)?

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

If the conductors are copper and it's your job to remove them the scrap wire could be worth quite a bit of money.

Mongo right..lol.. where did that term come from. I bet you know. Sometimes I believe there may be a clause it must be turned over to owner.

 

[infinity]

But if not removed by EC what would be the other option(s)?

Just leave it in place.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

But if not removed by EC what would be the other option(s)?

If the removal/demo is in the EC contract, the only options are for the EC to do that work, or for the EC to contract someone else to do that work.

 

[ron]

But if not removed by EC what would be the other option(s)?

Because there is no code limitation to abandoning it in place, it can be just left there and nobody takes it out.

 

[roger]

If the conductors are copper I would plan on pulling them out for scrap and get quotes for the actual removal of the duct bank.
But as Rob and Ron said, it can be left in place.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

it can be left in place.

I still think an RFI is required to determine that. Sure no code rule says it has to come out, but contract documents may require it to be removed.

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

But if you have wire coming out of the conduit into gear there'd be wires hanging out. So you cut them but you would not be able to cut them back so they are in the conduit unseen?

 

[infinity]

But if you have wire coming out of the conduit into gear there'd be wires hanging out. So you cut them but you would not be able to cut them back so they are in the conduit unseen?

Is this gear going to remain energized?

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

Is this gear going to remain energized?

No.

 

[infinity]

No.

So from a code perspective nothing needs to be removed. As mentioned unless and RFI is needed unless there is a clear indication on a demolition drawing or in the spec who is responsible for what. Often the electrician is responsible for disconnecting and ensuring that the conductors are de-energized so that the demolition contractor can remove them. It's often in the demo contractors contract that they get to keep the copper scrap.

 

[Joethemechanic]

Back in the 80's my buddy had a job tearing down a plant including anything subsurface down to a certain depth. Old old industrial site on the Delaware river waterfront. Every night he left with so much copper loaded in the back of an F350 utility body and an F250 pickup the bumpers were almost dragging. The copper money was enough to build a house for his son on a property they already owned, and believe me it was a nice house.

You wouldn't believe how much lead covered cable came out of the ground too. He had a laborer cutting the lead off with an ax. Lead sold for good money too